Moths in Myth & Legend
Posted: Jun 25, 1999
So I was talking to NeoMoth89 in the chatroom last week and she sent me a whole bunch of links about moths in old stories. I knew about the Japanese legend where moths guide souls, but she totally blew my mind with some new stuff. Apparently, in some cultures, seeing a white moth means good luck or even a message from someone who’s passed away. I saw one last summer and got an A on my science test the next week, so maybe it’s true, lol.
There’s also this idea that moths are drawn to light because they’re searching for the moon. I love that. It makes every porch light feel a little magical, like moths are on a secret quest. Some people say if a moth flies into your house, it’s bringing you news. Not sure I believe that, but it’s cool to think about.
But the wildest legend NeoMoth89 sent me was about Mothman. Yeah, THE Mothman. I didn’t even know he was connected to actual moths until now. The story started in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, back in the 1960s. People saw this huge creature with glowing red eyes and giant wings. Some said it looked like a man, others said it was more like a giant moth. It freaked out the whole town and became a total urban legend.
The legend says Mothman showed up before bad stuff happened, like the Silver Bridge collapse. Some people think he’s a warning, others think he’s just a cryptid like Bigfoot. There are even Mothman festivals now, with people dressing up and selling mothman merch. I kinda want a Mothman t-shirt, not gonna lie.
What’s wild is that Mothman isn’t even supposed to be a real moth, but the name stuck because of his wings and the way he flies. I read a bunch of old forum posts where people debate if he’s an alien, a mutant, or just a big owl. Either way, he’s part of moth lore now.
I started a whole new folder for “Mothman Sightings” and I’m gonna do a deep dive for my next post. If you have any weird Mothman stories or pics, send them to me! I wanna see if anyone’s spotted him outside of West Virginia.
For more on Mothman, check out my new post: Mothman: Cryptid, Legend, or Just a Big Moth?
If you know any other moth myths or legends, send them my way! I wanna collect them all for a future post. Moths are way more mysterious than people think.
← Back to Blog